Control Mechanisms for Assessing the Quality of Handmade and Artistic Products in e-Marketplace Platforms

Abstract

Selling handmade and artistic goods online is challenging since buyers need to be able to assess product quality before purchase. This study aims to explore how control mechanisms aid the assessment of the product quality of handmade and artistic goods. We do so by extracting control mechanisms for e-marketplace platforms from existing literature and discussing to what extent these are suitable for handmade and artistic goods. We found that existing literature mainly focuses on reputation systems. We reshaped the findings by conducting desk research to identify how control mechanisms are applied in a number of e-marketplaces. Our results show that in e-marketplaces that focus on selling handmade artistic products, a reputation system is not sufficient to ensure product quality in an online environment. Thus, it is critical to apply other control mechanisms which are more effective in increasing the trustworthiness of the seller of artistic and handmade goods. Last, we also suggest alternative control mechanisms to be explored in future research.

eCommerce Platforms Evaluation Framework for Government

“…price data for specific products) available on eCommerce platforms [see e.g. 15,16,18]. These data analytics approaches aim to obtain additional external (non-customs) data to help customs cross validate customs declarations and identify possible undervaluation of goods.…”

“…In this area already decades ago research examined issues like trust [11] and control mechanisms, such as third party guarantees as mechanisms to mitigate risk and uncertainty [13], as well as customer reviews as a control mechanism on the quality of the goods or services [22]. Building on earlier research on trust and control mechanisms in eCommerce, a recently published study [15] proposes an evaluation framework for assessing eCommerce platforms. This framework was developed in the context of customers buying hand-made products.…”

“…Similarly, customs also wants to prevent fraud in eCommerce. The framework of Ratnasari and de Reuver [15] builds on control mechanisms as discussed by Tiwana [21]. These control mechanisms help platforms to define criteria for parties to join the platform (gatekeeping), as well as other control mechanisms such as process control (related to compliance of participants on the platform), metrics control (relates to the involvement of participants on the platform) and relational control that reflects on shared values and norms that influence the behaviour.…”

“…These control mechanisms help platforms to define criteria for parties to join the platform (gatekeeping), as well as other control mechanisms such as process control (related to compliance of participants on the platform), metrics control (relates to the involvement of participants on the platform) and relational control that reflects on shared values and norms that influence the behaviour. In [15] dimensions and control mechanisms of eCommerce platforms are identified. The framework is used to compare and evaluate eight e-marketplaces (local in Asia, as well as international, including Amazon and Alibaba).…”

“…Empirically, this work builds on a case study conducted in the context of the PROFILE project, focusing on the use of data analytics for customs, and specifically the Dutch Living Lab, which focusses on eCommerce. Theoretically we build on research on control mechanisms in eCommerce platforms [15] and digital trade infrastructures [7,12,17].…”